THE HOT POT BBQ

Here's a neat little grill for your table or aft deck! More info at the link below.

The Hot Pot BBQ at Black & Blum

AN IMPORTANT LESSON -- LEARNED THE HARD WAY!

Often, it is the simplest things that can cause big problems, overlooked perhaps because they are so obvious, because we don’t understand their importance, because we become complacent, or because we just forget. Things like wearing sunscreen, changing you car’s oil, or remembering your wife’s birthday.

In yachting, there are lots of little things that must be addressed regularly for maintenance or safety.  After 32 years in the business, I am somewhat keen about them.  But I got complacent about one of the most important and was reminded -- the hard way -- a few months back.

GOOD BOAT SHOES!

I have to say that I absolutely knew better.  But age and sore feet gave way to comfort and style and cushioned insoles and “acceptable” outers trumped made-for-boating brands.  For years, my shoe rack was filled with Sperrys and Docksiders, specifically made to give good grip and traction on wet, slippery decks.  But little-by-little, they were replaced by soft-soled styles, easy to slip on and off, that protected client’s decks and flooring -- but that didn’t protect me!  I had no problem for years until one day, reality struck.

It was early morning and I needed to check something on a client’s boat.  The deck was wet from dew mixed with a light rain.  I knew it was slippery and that I had to be careful boarding but when I stepped from the dock to the deck, those nice, cushy soles had no grip and gave way.  With all my weight on it, my foot went sliding forward and my back leg followed, slamming into the side of the boat as I tumbled (very ungracefully, I’m sure), down into the cockpit.

After a quick check of all my body parts, I thought I had escaped with a few bruises and a slightly wounded pride.  Then I noticed the gash just under my knee and the fountain of blood pumping from it.  Thankfully, the dock master was nearby and he was able to compress the artery to stop the bleeding until I got to the hospital. 

I consider myself very blessed that I came away from that experience with no more than seven stitches.  It could have been so much worse.

Well, those not-for-boating shoes are now long gone and I certainly learned a critical lesson.  In the words of Julius Caesar, “Experience is the teacher of all things”.

How important are good quality, well-maintained boat shoes?  Very, very, very!  In the marine realm, footwear and safety go hand-in-hand and manufacturers have come a long way in offering new, comfortable, contemporary styles.

Please, check your shoes before your next boarding and be sure they will keep you safe and on your feet in all marine conditions.  Its one of those simple little things that will help avoid big, unexpected problems.

Wishes for safe and happy boating!

OCTOBER WATERWAYS NEWSLETTER

This month's edition of Waterways is dedicated to the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, October 27 to 31, and features the new and brokerage yachts that Allied Marine will display (as well as many other brokerage listings).  I'm pretty excited to report that at this show we will exhibit seven brand new models that are making their U.S. debut.  Please check out page one for a short description of each, and page three for more information.

Also, while in Italy I discovered that CRN has the 43 meter composite Hull #8 constructed and ready for customization, making the delivery time just one year from time of contract...a fantastic opportunity! More on page two. 

I'm also excited that "Calypso", the 1971 101' Feadship (also on page two), will be making her way to the show for display.  She's a beautiful classic, expertly maintained.  I hope if you visit the show, you'll take a few moments to give her a look.

Well, this edition of Waterways is certainly not lacking in quality, quantity, or variety.  I hope you enjoy reading through it!

CLICK HERE for link to OCTOBER WATERWAYS NEWSLETTER

AN OUTSTANDING TRIP TO CANNES AND THE FERRETTI GROUP FACTORIES!

Last weekend, I returned from an outstanding trip to Europe, visiting the Cannes Boat Show and the Ferretti Group factories in Italy.

Jam-packed with masses of information, abundant yacht tours, and fast-moving travel, this trip was one that broadened my understanding and appreciation of the remarkable products that we at Allied Marine represent.  It was great to be able to experience, first hand, the personalized, first-rate quality provided by every Ferretti Group product -- each of which has its own, unique personality and characteristics.  Because of my experience through this trip, I believe I will be much more effective in helping you choose the yacht (new or pre-owned) that most perfectly fits your needs, desires, and lifestyle.

Please join me, below, as I share some of the highlights of the trip.   Along the way, if you find you would like more information, please give me a call at 772-201-1800 or visit my website at www.TomJenkinsYachtSales.com.

Thanks for traveling along.  I hope you enjoy the “tour”!

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Our first stop was the Cannes Boat Show where I had the opportunity to tour and sea trial several new models -- a few of which will be making their way to Fort Lauderdale for next month’s show.  The Ferretti 720 was one of those yachts, sporting new, sleek lines, an enclosed galley, 4 cabins plus crew, and a front window “arrow design” that gives excellent visibility from the pilothouse.  

The Riva 86’ Domino, also scheduled for Fort Lauderdale display, is the ultimate in an express style model featuring the best of everything that Riva stands for: quality, spectacular lines, solid construction, and attention to detail.  Painted with 13 coats of graphite paint, its show-stopper!

A star of the imposing Pershing display was the Pershing 74’, making its debut in Cannes. The all-new 3/3 layout features a sliding bulkhead that disappears into the hull to open the salon to the aftdeck.

The Pershing 108’ has the same disappearing bulkhead and features innovative seating on the flybridge.  The Poltrona Frau interior is really spectacular (as always!).  That’s me in the photo on the right --- with the Pershing display in the background.

Redesigned, the 74’ Mochi Craft has oversized windows in the master cabin and a very comfortable foredeck.  Notice the beautiful woods in the pilothouse, used extensively throughout the entire yacht, creating a rich, warm, and inviting interior. 

Undoubtedly, the highlight of the show for me was the CRN 43 meter “Lady Trudy”.  Absolutely magnificent in every way, each room is more exceptional than the last.  Although this yacht is privately owned and not for sale, there is a great opportunity to purchase a new 43 meter, just one year from completion.  The hull is complete and the yacht is ready for customization.  “Lady Trudy”, of which I have many photos, offers outstanding ideas for design and decor.

CRN 43 METER.  READY FOR CUSTOMIZATION, ONE YEAR FROM DELIVERY.

Much anticipated, the Custom Line 124’ also made its debut in Cannes and is the flagship of the planing line.  It is flooded with light from every angle and features electro-hydraulically operated fold-down platforms on port and starboard that create terraces over the sea.  Sensational!

An unexpected surprise, we sea trialed the 75’ Itama, an amazing sport cruiser designed for rough water and a smooth ride.  It was quiet and fast, had excellent handling, and, as expected, Made in Italy elegance.  Wow.  This was a yacht with which I was not very familiar and I have to say: It was inspiring!

After three great days at the Cannes Boat Show, we headed to Italy to visit the factories.   Our stop at Portofino really had nothing to do with business, but we completely enjoyed the beautiful little town built around a small bay that looked just like a post card of old Italy!  That’s me with my son, Brett, who is just getting started in yacht sales.  This trip was the perfect introduction for him to the Ferretti Group and its outstanding products.

Traveling on, we arrived in La Spezia where Riva manufactures its larger yachts.  Below are photos of the 115’ Athena hull under construction and the flybridge of another Athena, being prepped with final touches for completion and delivery. 

The next day, we visited Sarnico, the birthplace of Riva and the location of its state-of-the-art factory at the foot of the mountains on beautiful Lake Iseo.   Here, we had the great pleasure of meeting the legendary Carlo Riva and of taking the 44’ Rivarama out on sea trial (and I got to drive!)

The Custom Line factory was our next stop where we toured the new 100’.  Like the 124’, it features the innovative salon side terrace and has light pouring in through large windows and skylights. Interior colors are becoming bright and bold, as seen in the kitchen cabinets, below.

In Cattolica at the Ferretti Yacht factory, we were able to see many models in various stages of completion and were very impressed by the facilities.  Extremely clean and well organized, it is a hub of much activity!

The biggest thrill of the trip was sea trialing the Pershing 80’ and 92’ at the factory in Fano.  These luxurious super yachts are high-performance speedboats in the water, handling with the ease of yachts a fraction of their size.  Notice how there is very little bow rise running at 40 knots.  Certainly, this is a yacht that must be experienced to be fully appreciated!  These photos of the 92’ were taken running side-by-side on the 80’ -- and holding on for dear life!  I hope you’ll come see this fabulous yacht for yourself at the Fort Lauderdale show.

Pershing factory itself was pretty impressive, as well. Dozens of large yachts under construction...and all of them are sold!  The second photo, below, was taken from the third story of the facility.

Our final factory tour was CRN where, among other yachts, we toured the palatial 80 meter, under construction for three years to date.  The first photo below, is an aft shot of the yacht in its hanger.  It's difficult to have a true appreciation for its immensity until you stand on the ground and look up.  The second photo below is the colossal salon.  The 43 meter that I described above is also being built at this factory.

Our last stop before home was beautiful Rome ... and a 4-hour, whirlwind tour of St. Peter’s Cathedral, the Vatican Museum, the Sistine Chapel, and the Spanish Steps.  Completely breathtaking.

     

Thanks again for sharing this tour with me.  It certainly was a very worthwhile, educational, and informative trip.  Italy is home to some of the most beautiful and historic sights in the world ... and also to the most superb and innovative yacht designs and technologies.

Now, I feel more prepared than ever to help you with all your yachting inquiries and decisions.  Its really amazing the things that can be learned...even after 32 years in luxury yacht sales!  On the cusp of our own Boat Show season, I feel more confident than ever in the quality and performance of the products we sell...and in helping you meet your seafaring dreams.  I hope to see you in Fort Lauderdale to walk through some of our exciting models with you!

VILANOVA GRAND MARINA BARCELONA

This fairly new facility announced its new services and amenities during the Monaco Yacht Show last week.   I thought it was information more than worthy of passing along!

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Vilanova Grand Marina Barcelona is the first marina in the Mediterranean conceived and designed exclusively for superyachts, with specialized facilities and all-round services to accommodate these types of vessels. Opened in April 2009, the facility rapidly earned the recognition and support of the industry due to their specialization, quality services, and privileged location.

The marina is located just 35 minutes by car or train from Barcelona and 20 minutes from Barcelona's international airport.  In Vilanova i la Geltru, a small town with a long seafaring tradition, an excellent year-round climate, crystalline waters, and clean air can be enjoyed in proximity to the attractions and sites of an urban hub.

As a home port, the facility provides all the technical services that superyachts and their crew might require on a daily basis. For temporary mooring, the needs of the crew and all necessary services for the final preparation of yachts can be met.  With the latest generation 200-ton travel hoist and an indoor workshop, services include painting, repair, mechanics, carpentry, electronics, electricity, upholstery, and rigging.

Vilanova Grand Marina-Barcelona boasts 49 berths for sale and rent under new licence for yachts between 25 to 80 metres in length, being able to accommodate even larger boats.

The marina, located at the inner basin of Vilanova harbour in a secured area with clean, protected waters, has up to 6.5-metre depth and spacious moorings, in accordance with the size and requirements of large yachts.

Vilanova Grand Marina Barcelona is one of the most advanced superyacht marinas in Europe and features state-of-the-art technology and sophisticated resources to offer a comprehensive range of specialized services, including a completely operational helipad.

For more information, please visit the Vilanova Grand Marina website: www.vilanovagrandmarina.com.

VIDEO OF 40' DORAL "RAVEN". 2008.

This is the newest of my central listing videos!

(another produced by SeeSea Productions)

Enjoy!

"Raven" is a lightly-used cruiser with low-hour Volvo IPS 500 engines that take it to a max of 36 knots. The joystick controls make for easy handling and maneuvering, even for the novice yachtsman.  Lots of options, from teak and holly flooring to SAT TV to underwater cameras.  More info at my website: http://ow.ly/6Cj7o.

For a larger screen version of this video, please access it at the web address above.

THANKS!

FROM MAHOGANY TO FIBERGLASS: THE HISTORY OF THE BOATYARD THAT BECAME A LEGEND

In light of yesterday's post about Carlo Riva, I thought you might be interested in a short history of the company.  I think the public's reaction to the switch to fiberglass in 1969 is particularly interesting!

We took the following photos of classic Riva models at the factory in Italy when we visited last week.  The last is actually a photo of a photo.

The world-famous firm, over 168 years on the crest of a wave

    

The history of the Riva boatyard began in 1842 on Lake Iseo in Sarnico (Bergamo) with Pietro Riva, a carpenter who had moved there from Lake Como. It continued with Ernesto, followed by Serafino, who loved racing, and lastly Carlo, who created a style that made a name for itself all over the world as a synonym for elegance and impeccable taste.  Riva's story is one of pure Italian style, a history of pleasure boating.  Ernesto introduced the internal combustion engine in 1880 and with his son Serafino's passion for racing, performance became a distinctive feature of all Riva yachts.

During the Thirties, Sarnico was one of the most active boatyards on the international motor boating scene. Influenced by the first competitions held, on 1 May 1912 Serafino reached a speed of 24 km/h in a racing yacht during an international race -- a feat achieved for the very first time.  Motor yacht competitions began to enjoy huge success, giving rise to the holding of important international events all over the country. Serafino Riva won one of the most famous, the Pavia-Venice, two years running, in 1931 and 1932, establishing the record of the period by racing at a speed of 52 km/h.                                  

Reconstruction of Italy was in full swing and bridges, motorways and towns were being built all over the country. Society was going through an industrial revolution and the automobile became a rising star. Carlo Riva created an alter ego for this star, namely a range of wooden yachts featuring an unmistakable design. The line, interiors, steering wheel, dashboard and driving position of the Ariston, the first example of what would develop into several generations of motorboats, made it the very first luxurious water “automobile”. This brought a new, all-Italian dimension to an important period of the year, the holidays, and Riva yachts became inviting, smart, sensual, vain.

In 1969, when the first fiberglass yacht appeared, the lovers of tradition were horrified. The farsighted Riva boatyard, however, knew how to innovate while still respecting tradition. Indeed, Carlo Riva’s last contribution to a Riva which was no longer really his own, was to ennoble and enrich the yacht by “combining cold plastic with a touch of warm wood”, creating a happy union between mahogany and fiberglass.

After various passages, in May 2000 Riva joined the Ferretti Group, one of the world leaders in luxury yachting, heralding the onset of a new period of development and innovation. The Ferretti Group, led by President Norberto Ferretti, currently encompasses Ferretti Yachts, Pershing, Riva, Itama, Bertram, Mochi Craft, CRN e Custom Line. Since joining the Group, Riva has developed a portfolio of 11 models ranging from 33 to 115 feet (10 to 35 meters).

Riva continues to be synonymous all over the world with style, beauty, innovation, design and quality. The study of new models, featuring unique designs and top quality in all aspects, is entrusted to Mauro Micheli and his Officina Italiana Design. Riva fully expresses what Italian creativity and industriousness are capable of producing for the joy, pleasure and wonder of all those who love the sea and luxury. 

That's me...at the helm of today's Rivarama.
Fantastico!

THE LEGENDARY CARLO RIVA

One of the highlights of our Ferretti Group trip to Italy was visiting the Riva factories. In La Speza where the 75’+ yachts are built, we had the pleasure of inspecting the 115’ Athena.  It is one of the most dramatic yachts I’ve ever been on.  But even more impressive was the plant itself, the attention paid to each detail of production, and the people who work there.  You can easily tell that they enjoy and take much pride in the work that they do and in the products they produce.

The original Riva factory is located in Sarnico on Lake Iseo (the namesake for Riva’s new, 27’ day yacht).  To our surprise, Carlo Riva, the company’s legendary 92-year-old patriarch, made a special trip in to speak with us!  As we waited for him, we perused photos and memorabilia on the walls and in the albums of his office, awestruck by the dozens of famed personalities with whom he has associated and who have had the privilege of owning one of his exquisitely-crafted yachts.

Mr. Riva spent over two hours with us, sharing great stories of decades in the luxury yacht-building business.  He explained that in the company’s beginnings, Mr. Beretta (of firearms fame) told him of the importance of building the best product with the closest tolerances and most functional design.  Riva thought following Beretta’s advice would be the hardest task, but soon realized that creating a solid production team would take even greater skill.  He took outstanding care to develop loyal employees who would maintain exceptional quality -- and paid them 20% more than the competition for their reliability.

Today, a feeling of pride still exists throughout the company, which is more like a family than a global business.  Riva Yachts is a special jewel in the Ferretti Company and maintains classic and timeless designs with uncompromising beauty and function. 

True to Mr. Riva’s commitment and vision, each yacht built today reflects the organization he built and the desire he instilled in his employees.

Meeting a celebrated yachting icon was a true pleasure and experiencing a company built on a mountain lake in the middle of Italy is a wonder. Growing a global company from  one of small fishing boats in rural Europe is a testimony of Carlo Riva’s dedication to his values and to those who worked with him to create his yachts.

One day, someone will write a book about this man’s life.  It should be a “must read” for every person in business.  I, for one, will be sure to read it.